Speech for the Best Station Awards 2006

Date: 04 April 2006

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Before I begin, let me start by offering my sincere condolences to the families and friends of the students involved in this morning's bus crash in Co Offaly. We think in particular of the family and friends of the young boy tragically killed. We think also of the pupils, parents and teachers of Killina Presentation School and the Clara and Rahan communities.

I also wish to recognise the actions of everyone dealing with this morning's incident the emergency services and relevant authorities.

Moving to this afternoon's event.

I am delighted to be here once again to mark the 14th Annual Waterford Wedgewood Iarnród Éireann Best Stations Award. Indeed it is a privilege to be here this afternoon.

Over the past 5 years, more than €1.2 billion has been spent on the railways both on infrastructure and new rolling stock after decades of underinvestment. The investment has been put into upgrading existing lines; the purchase of rolling stock and more than half of the expenditure on infrastructure over the past 5 years has been spent on keeping the network safe.

Needless to say, this investment will continue. New projects will be funded under Transport 21, our new ambitious plan for transport infrastructure and development, which I launched last November, ensuring continuous improvements to rail services.

Indeed, 4 major projects will be "kicked off" this year.

The new Docklands station, which I launched earlier last month, that will enable additional services to be provided on the Maynooth line from end next year and also facilitate the new rail commuters from Co. Meath with the opening of the Dunboyne spur off the line in 2009.

The Kildare Route Project is well advanced. The Public Inquiry into the Railway Order has been held and I am currently awaiting the Inspector's report into the Inquiry. When I have considered his report and the submissions made to me throughout the process, I hope to grant the Order to allow construction start as soon as possible.

Cork-Midleton Commuter Route is at advanced design stage and I believe the company plans to submit and application for a Railway Order to me in a matter of weeks.

Planning permission is awaited for the new Portlaoise Traincare Depot, which will facilitate the new modern rail fleet that will be delivered by 2008, taking ours from being the oldest to being the youngest, most modern fleet in Europe. Some 217 new units will be entered into service onto the Intercity network between now and 2008, indeed that is a fine accomplishment.

Quality, comfort and frequency of service will be improved on every route by end 2008, allowing the record number of Intercity rail customers to continue growing.

The new rolling stock, coupled with the upgrade of infrastructure that has taken place in recent years, presents Iarnród Éireann will opportunities to provide the type of modern, comfortable, reliable rail service that customers expect in the 21st century.

Transport 21 will see an increasing number of new stations, services and routes on the rail network. For the first time Iarnród Éireann can look forward to developing and expanding the rail network to modern European Standards.

New lines to Midleton, the Navan spur and the re-opening of sections of the Western Rail Corridor will see vast expansion of the network.

Punctuality and reliability of service is, of course, crucial to the customer and I know more challenging targets in this regard are currently being agreed between my Department and Iarnród Éireann as part of the Memorandum of Understanding for 2006.

Customer waiting facilities, cleanliness, information and general quality customer service are all important aspects of the service provided by Iarnród Éireann and in this regard I would like to congratulate the excellent staff working at rail stations who provide this service day in and day out.

Station painting is also an important activity currently being undertaken by you in Iarnród Éireann. Not only will it lend itself to the aesthetics of all the stations on the network, the painting of stations in the new corporate colour scheme also gives sense of community amongst all staff throughout the network.

It is a fitting tribute to Norman McAdams, one of our judging panel who sadly passed away earlier this year, that the Best Intercity Station Award be renamed after him. I'm sure he would be very proud indeed of all of our winners here today. Indeed, I would like to congratulate all our winners, you can be proud of your work.

ENDS